Alstroemeria plant named ‘Tespassion’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Tespassion’, characterized by its upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit; sturdy and strong plant form; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit and relatively short internodes; dense and bushy appearance; large and numerous white to light purple-colored flowers with darker purple-colored center and held above the foliar plane on relatively short flower pedicels; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘TESPASSION’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, grown typically as a potted garden Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Tespassion’.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-flowering potted garden Alstroemeria plants with uniform plant habit and attractive flower coloration.

The new Alstroemeria plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands in April, 2006 of a proprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code number B 1052, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code number Pa8014x012, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Alstroemeria plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands in April, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria plant by rhizome divisions in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands since September, 2007 has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Tespassion’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Tespassion’ as a new and distinct Alstroemeria plant:

-   -   1. Upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded         plant habit.     -   2. Sturdy and strong plant form; moderately vigorous growth         habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit and relatively short internodes; dense         and bushy appearance.     -   4. Large and numerous white to light purple-colored flowers with         darker purple-colored center and held above the foliar plane on         relatively short flower pedicels.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of the female parent selection primarily in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have purple-colored flowers with yellow-colored centers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of the male parent selection primarily in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have white blushed with pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Tescreda Improved’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,127. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Alstroemeria differ primarily from plants of ‘Tescreda Improved’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria have narrower outer flower         segments than plants of ‘Tescreda Improved’.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and ‘Tescreda Improved’ differ         in flower color as plants of ‘Tescreda Improved’ have white and         red purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Alstroemeria plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alstroemeria plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Tespassion’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown during the winter and early spring in 4.6-liter containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 12° C. and light levels averaged 7,000 lux. Plants were 22 weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Tespassion’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code number B 1052, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code number Pa8014x012,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By rhizome divisions.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About seven             weeks at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About eight             weeks at 16° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous and fleshy; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.         -   Rhizome length.—About 3.8 cm.         -   Rhizome diameter.—About 7 mm.         -   Rhizome texture.—Smooth.         -   Rhizome color.—Close to 195A to 195B. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright,             somewhat outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant             habit; broad inverted triangle; freely branching habit with             about 20 primary lateral branches developing per plant;             relatively short internodes, dense and bushy appearance;             sturdy and strong plant form; moderately vigorous growth             habit.         -   Plant height.—About 24.7 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 39 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Aspect.—Mostly upright to somewhat outwardly spreading.         -   Length.—About 12.4 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 6 mm.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; waxy cuticle.         -   Color.—Close to 144B; waxy cuticle, close to 145A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; below the peduncles in a single             whorl; simple.         -   Length.—About 6 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate; twisting.         -   Apex.—Acuminate to slightly apiculate.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Facing downward,             close to 138A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Facing             upright, close to 137B. Fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: Facing downward, close to between 137C and 191A;             venation, close to 143A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Facing upright, close to N137A; venation, close to             137A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm by             8 mm. Color: Close to between 143A and 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single zygomorphic flowers arranged             in compound umbels; flowers face mostly outwardly to             upright; perianth segments separate; freely flowering habit             with about 16 flowers developing per inflorescence and about             300 flowers developing per plant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about eight             weeks after planting; flowering continuous from summer into             the autumn in The Netherlands.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten days; flowers not             persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3.6 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm.             Shape: Obovate. Color: Close to 143A and 145B.         -   Umbel height.—About 12.4 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 17.6 cm.         -   Flower diameter (horizontal).—About 7.2 cm.         -   Flower length (vertical).—About 7.8 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 6.8 cm.         -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six segments arranged in two whorls,             each whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Size,             inner perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 7.2 cm.             Width, lateral segments: About 2.8 cm. Length, median             segments: About 6.4 cm. Width, median segments: About             2.8 cm. Size, outer perianth: Length, lateral segments:             About 6.6 cm. Width, lateral segments: About 4.4 cm. Length,             median segments: About 6.9 cm. Width, median segments: About             4.4 cm. Shape, inner perianth, lateral and median segments:             Oblanceolate. Shape, outer perianth, lateral and median             segments: Flabellate. Apex, inner perianth, lateral and             median segments: Abruptly acute. Apex, outer perianth,             lateral and median segments: Emarginate with small abruptly             acute apex. Base, inner perianth, lateral and median             segments: Narrowly cuneate. Base, outer perianth, lateral             and median segments: Long cuneate. Margin, inner perianth,             lateral and median segments: Entire. Margin, outer perianth,             lateral and median segments: Towards the apex, finely             serrate; towards the base, entire. Texture, inner and outer             perianths, lateral and median segments: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly velvety. Color, inner perianth: When opening,             lateral segments, upper surface: Close to NN155C; towards             the base, close to 157C and 157D; towards the apex, close to             75A and 76A; distal to central blotch, close to 70A and 72A;             narrowly elliptic-shaped spots, close to N186C. When             opening, median segments, upper surface: Close to NN155C;             towards the base, close to 157D; towards the apex, close to             75A; distal to central blotch, close to 70A and 72A;             narrowly elliptic-shaped spots, close to N186C. When             opening, lateral segments, lower surface: Close to NN155C;             towards the base, close to 157C; towards the apex, close to             75A and 76A; distal to central blotch, close to 70A;             narrowly elliptic-shaped spots, close to 197C. When opening,             median segments, lower surface: Close to 157D; towards the             base, close to 157B and 157C; towards the apex, slightly             tinged with close to 75C; distal to central blotch, close to             70A; narrowly elliptic-shaped spots, close to 197C. Fully             opened, lateral and median segments, upper surface: Close to             NN155C and NN155D; towards the apex, close to 76A and 77B;             distal to central blotch, close to darker than 72A; narrowly             elliptic-shaped spots, close to N186C. Fully opened, lateral             and median segments, lower surface: Close to NN155C and             NN155D; towards the apex, close to 76A and 77B; distal to             central blotch, close to darker than 77A; narrowly             elliptic-shaped spots, close to 197C. Color, outer perianth:             When opening, lateral and median segments, upper surface:             Close to NN155C; towards the base, close to 157D; towards             the apex, close to 75A and 77B; apex, close to 143A; distal             to central blotch, close to 70A and 71A. When opening,             lateral and median segments, lower surface: Close to NN155A;             towards the base, close to 157B to 157D; towards the apex,             close to 75A and 75B; apex, close to 143A; distal to central             blotch, close to 71A. Fully opened, lateral segments, upper             surface: Towards the apex, close to 76A; towards the base,             close to 76D; distal to central blotch, close to darker than             77A; apex, close to 143A to 143B. Fully opened, median             segment, upper surface: Towards the apex, close to 76A;             towards the base, close to 76D and NN155C; distal to central             blotch, close to darker than 77A; apex, close to 143A to             143B. Fully opened, lateral and median segments, lower             surface: Towards the apex, close to 76A; towards the base,             close to 76D; distal to central blotch, close to darker than             N79B; apex and midvein, close to 143A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Angle: About 20° from vertical.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous; waxy cuticle. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 143A; waxy cuticle, close to 145A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.             Filament length: About 3.6 cm. Filament color: Close to 76A;             towards the base, close to 145D. Anther shape: Double             reniform. Anther length: About 4 mm. Anther color: Close to             146D. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to darker             than 122A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length:             About 4.2 cm. Style length: About 3.5 cm. Style color: Close             to 77B; towards the base, close to 157D. Stigma shape:             Tri-parted; parts, club-shaped, curved. Stigma color: Close             to 77B. Ovary color: Close to 146B.         -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development have not been             observed on plants of the new Alstroemeria. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Alstroemeria plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been     observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain,     high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness     Zone 8. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named ‘Tespassion’ as illustrated and described. 